Linux 6.0 is expected to arrive soon. The next version of the Linux kernel is jumping version numbers, with some performance gains, but it’s not a major change all the same: What was previously planned to be version 5.20 is now Linux 6.0 according to Linux 5.19 announcement.
There will be new hardware support. Especially Support for the RISC-V architecture continues to accrue, with changes that improve the new platform’s support for handling for Docker containers and apps packaged with Ubuntu’s Snap system, plus page-based memory types.
There is one big ticket feature has made it for the Linux 6.0 kernel: the Runtime Verification infrastructure for running Linux on safety-critical systems. Over last few years researchers have been exploring the possibility of verifying the Linux kernel behavior using Runtime Verification. Runtime Verification (RV) is a lightweight (yet rigorous) method that complements classical exhaustive verification techniques (such as model checking and theorem proving) with a more practical approach for complex systems. RV works by analyzing the trace of the system’s actual execution, comparing it against a formal specification of the system behavior. The usage of deterministic automaton for RV is a well-established approach.
Information sources and links to more information:
Ready for the Linux 6.0 splashdown? Here are some of the highlights
Don’t panic if you’re not a fan of big changes… it’s 5.20 by another name
https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/08/linux_6_point_0_highlights/
Linux Kernel 6.0 is Likely the Next Version Upgrade With Initial Rust Code
Linux Kernel’s next upgrade is going to be 6.0, instead of Linux 5.20. That’s what Linus Torvalds is going with. Sounds good!
https://news.itsfoss.com/linux-kernel-6-0-reveal/
Linux 6.0 Adding Run-Time Verification For Running On Safety Critical Systems
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.0-Runtime-Verification
De Oliveira, Daniel Bristot; Cucinotta, Tommaso; De Oliveira, Romulo Silva. *Efficient formal verification for the Linux kernel.* In: International Conference on Software Engineering and Formal Methods. Springer, Cham, 2019. p. 315-332.
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-30446-1_17
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/rostedt/linux-trace.git/tree/Documentation/trace/rv/runtime-verification.rst?h=for-next&id=ff0aaf671230d409a68fd7400f41e9eb3ac61dd8
https://lore.kernel.org/all/CAHk-=wgrz5BBk=rCz7W28Fj_o02s0Xi0OEQ3H1uQgOdFvHgx0w@mail.gmail.com/
160 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.howtogeek.com/how-this-classic-video-game-helped-spread-linux/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.top500.org/statistics/details/osfam/1/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIXsMdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbzRyI8C6lh011o0M2aBJaeuBl_-uBJRoqbHSXvNAYbj67wf1MEdVCvwNg_aem_xS5LS2cxR3q3FfCHJjGcWA
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2025/02/10/nice-pdf-but-can-it-run-linux-yikes/
Tomi Engdahl says:
‘Key kernel maintainers’ still back Rust in the Linux kernel, despite the doubters
Rustaceans could just wait for unwelcoming C coders to slowly SIGQUIT…
https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/11/rust_for_linux_project_support/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-250Hz-1000Hz-Kernel-2025
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://news.itsfoss.com/nova-gpu-driver-linux/
Nvidia Driver Written in Rust Could Arrive With Linux Kernel 6.15
The Nova GPU driver is still evolving, but a kernel debut is near.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Linus Torvalds forgot to release Linux 6.14 for a whole day
‘It’s just pure incompetence’ confesses penguin emperor
https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/25/linux_6_14_day_late/
Linux kernel development boss Linus Torvalds has admitted his own “pure incompetence” led him to forget to deliver version 6.14 of the project.
Torvalds usually delivers new Linux kernel release candidates and full releases on Sunday afternoon, and documents each with a post. If he is traveling for work or pleasure, he usually gives advance notice so penguinistas don’t worry if his posts and releases don’t appear at the usual time.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.15-Null-TTY-Default
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.14-Sched-2-Year-Regress
Tomi Engdahl says:
Linux developers want to remove i486 and i586 Pentium CPU support to unburden kernel developers
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/linux-developers-want-to-remove-i486-and-i586-pentium-cpu-support-to-unburden-kernel-developers
The i486 series launched in 1989, and the i586 series debuted in 1993.
Linux is renowned for supporting incredibly ancient hardware, but there are limits to even what Linux developers can support. Phoronix reports that Linux developers are finally proposing removing support for ancient i486 and early i586 (Pentium) CPUs to unburden developers.
Linux kernel developer Ingo Molnar proposed in an RFC patch thread to remove support for these ancient 32-bit processors due to the few people running these chips combined with the latest Linux kernels. Compatibility has allegedly reached a point where supporting these chips is causing more headaches in the codebase than it’s worth.
Molnar also stated that Linus Torvalds has similar feelings and desires to “…leave i486 support behind.” Specifically, ending i486 and early Pentium support will allegedly remove 14,104 lines of code inside 80 files in the Linux kernel. Removing support would bump up the minimum kernel support level to include TSC and CX8 hardware support.